One upside to the absence of Cinderella tales within the Candy 16 is that the matchups are all phenomenal. Heading into the second weekend of the Massive Dance, there may be not a single sport on the docket with a double-digit level unfold, which suggests we might be in for some dramatic endings as we inch nearer to crowning a nationwide champion in San Antonio on April 7.
Rating the “greatest” video games is all a matter of perspective. A hoops junkie transfixed by on-court schematics would possibly rank the offensive showdown between No. 2 seed Alabama and No. 6 seed BYU on the prime of the listing. However March Insanity is concerning the storylines, the narratives — notably with coaches — and the potential for school basketball to hook informal followers at this distinctive time on the sports activities calendar.
From that prism, we should think about a showdown between No. 1 seed Duke and No. 4 seed Arizona as doubtlessly the most effective sport of the weekend. The one drawback with placing the Cooper Flagg vs. Caleb Love showdown atop the listing is the fact of Duke’s penchant for dominance. If the Blue Devils play to their potential, that one may wind up as a snoozer.
For this rating, we sought to mix narrative intrigue with potential for extremely intense drama.
8. (1) Houston vs. (4) Purdue
Friday | 10:09 p.m. | TBS
Houston has received 26 of its previous 27 video games and owns the nation’s longest profitable streak at 15. Three of its 4 losses got here in time beyond regulation. But, this extremely dominant season from the Cougars feels under-appreciated, maybe as a result of it is simply so regular. That is who the Cougars have been lately beneath coach Kelvin Sampson. Besides this group is even better-positioned to outlive within the Massive Dance; the Cougars are literally wholesome on this NCAA Event and have their greatest 3-point taking pictures staff but beneath Sampson. It will take a heroic effort from Purdue.
7. (1) Auburn vs. (5) Michigan
Friday | 9:39 p.m. | CBS
Auburn vs. Michigan seems like a Capital One Bowl matchup, not a Candy 16 sport. The Tigers have not essentially been taking part in their greatest as of late, but it surely’s laborious to determine the place Michigan has a transparent edge. Auburn has the dimensions to deal with Michigan’s pair of 7-footers, and the Tigers boast one of many nation’s prime assist-to-turnover ratios, which contrasts properly with the Wolverines’ turnover-prone persona. There may be potential for a snug Auburn win right here.
6. (2) Alabama vs. (6) BYU
Thursday | 7:09 p.m. | CBS
This might be probably the most lovely offensive matchup of the season as two of the nation’s most-efficient squads face off. The Crimson Tide lead the nation each in factors per sport at 90.8 and in offensive effectivity, per KenPom. BYU additionally ranks among the many prime 10 in offensive effectivity and No. 11 in made 3-pointers per sport at 11.6. They need to simply eliminate the clock and let the primary staff to 100 be declared the winner.
5. (1) Florida vs. (4) Maryland
Thursday | 7:39 p.m. | TBS
Maryland hasn’t misplaced a sport by greater than six factors all season. So the thought of the Terrapins getting run off the ground is hard to fathom, even towards an offensive juggernaut like Florida. But when the Gators deliver their greatest, it is attainable. UF’s rotating forged of 4 high quality bigs will put a ton of strain on Maryland’s frontcourt. The “Crab 5” have already delivered with this event’s lone game-winning buzzer-beater. In the event that they comply with up with a Candy 16 upset, the Terrapins could develop into the story of this event.
March Insanity rolls on with loaded Candy 16: Picks, scouting stories for eight NCAA Event tilts
Isaac Trotter
4. (1) Duke vs. (4) Arizona
Thursday | 9:39 p.m. | CBS
Caleb Love ending one other particular Duke season could be a storyline for the ages. Three years in the past, he was the main power on a North Carolina staff that ended Mike Krzyzewski’s teaching profession. Now, he is at Arizona with an opportunity to finish Duke star Cooper Flagg’s faculty profession within the Candy 16. Nevertheless it feels way more possible that the juggernaut Blue Devils steamroll a Wildcats staff that has been inconsistent since mid-February.
3. (2) Tennessee vs. (3) Kentucky
Friday | 7:39 p.m. | TBS
An SEC border warfare with a spot within the Elite Eight on the road? Sure, please. In the event you’re searching for a sport with the very best potential for followers combating within the stands, that is it. The Wildcats swept the regular-season collection, which begs the query: has Mark Pope cracked the code on Rick Barnes’ perennially elite protection? Additionally noteworthy: Tennessee sharpshooter Chaz Lanier went simply 3 for 17 from past the arc within the first two conferences. However he is 10 for 18 to date within the Massive Dance.
2. (2) Michigan State vs. (6) Ole Miss
Friday | 7:09 p.m. | CBS
In the event you’re into teaching characters and the storylines they carry, Tom Izzo vs. Chris Beard is probably the most compelling matchup of the Candy 16. At 70, Izzo vowed final season to get the Spartans deep into the Massive Dance. Or, he stated, “I’ll die attempting.” Effectively, right here the Spartans are. But when they are going to keep alive, they need to get previous an Ole Miss staff in search of its first Elite Eight look ever. Second-year coach Chris Beard wanted a shot at redemption, Ole Miss supplied it, and the Rebels are reaping the advantages of his teaching acumen.
1. (3) Texas Tech vs. (10) Arkansas
Thursday | 10:09 p.m. | TBS
Why aren’t we placing JT Toppin’s identify within the dialog with Duke’s Cooper Flagg and Auburn’s Johni Broome for Nationwide Participant of the 12 months? The sophomore huge is averaging 22.6 factors, 10.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks over the Pink Raiders’ previous 13 video games. Arkansas and coach John Calipari are the story getting into this sport. Do not be stunned if Toppin is the story popping out of it. If not, Calipari reaching the Elite Eight with the one double-digit seed remaining within the bracket will suffice as one unimaginable growth.